# Restricted areas **URL:** \ **Category:** Contributing and equipment\ **Created:** [October 3, 2026, 9:40pm UTC](https://forum.mapillary.com/t/restricted-areas/10715 "2026-10-03T21:40:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fixtor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a183cd/32.png) [@Fixtor](https://forum.mapillary.com/u/Fixtor)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2026, 9:40pm UTC](https://forum.mapillary.com/t/restricted-areas/10715/1 "2026-10-03T21:40:04Z")
Poland has introduced new laws regarding photographing certain objects. It is against the law to take photos of military bases and some other areas ([article about it](https://www.prawo.pl/samorzad/nowe-zasady-fotografowania-obiektow-wojskowych,533930.html)). I generally try to avoid any roads close to those places, but I obviously don’t have every restricted area in Poland memorized. I recently started worrying that if I’m mapping a long drive (let’s say 50 km), I might unintentionally drive by such place and not realize it. As far as I’m aware, this isn’t strictly enforced, but I still don’t want to accidently break the law. I once saw a military object on Google Street View where you could literally see a sign saying that it’s forbidden to photograph - I reported it to Google and it looks like they actually acted upon my report and blurred it out (here: [Google Maps](https://maps.app.goo.gl/BT9shJ3zj3m1qTbr5) ). I think it would be a really good idea to have Mapillary automatically remove photos taken at restricted areas. If it’s in the middle of a sequence, the sequence could be split into two sequences to avoid a long line with no photos. It’s not just the users who are at risk of breaking the law - I can imagine that Meta might get into trouble as well for publishing images of restricted areas, so I think this should be taken seriously. ---
**Author:** ![HylianTraveller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea666f/32.png) [@HylianTraveller](https://forum.mapillary.com/u/HylianTraveller)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2026, 8:21am UTC](https://forum.mapillary.com/t/restricted-areas/10715/2 "2026-10-04T08:21:17Z")
This is an important tropic brought up here. I think the biggest challenge is that Mapillary needs the data, where the restricted zones are. Mapillary uses some data from OpenStreetMap, but I am not sure, if OSM collects data about photography-restricted zones. The other thing is, if they are known, imagery needs to have the correct coordinate and heading data, so it is sure to say which images show the subject, which doesn’t allow photographs ---
**Author:** ![GITNE](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.mapillary.com/gitne/32/70659_2.png) [@GITNE](https://forum.mapillary.com/u/GITNE)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2026, 2:10pm UTC](https://forum.mapillary.com/t/restricted-areas/10715/3 "2026-10-04T14:10:15Z")
> [@Fixtor](#): > > Poland has introduced new laws regarding photographing certain objects. It is against the law to take photos of military bases and some other areas ([article about it](https://www.prawo.pl/samorzad/nowe-zasady-fotografowania-obiektow-wojskowych,533930.html)). > […] > I recently started worrying that if I’m mapping a long drive (let’s say 50 km), I might unintentionally drive by such place and not realize it. Do not worry too much about it. I have also reviewed the regulation in the original text when it dropped and the key things to remember are 1. it applies to military and special forces bases only 2. the restricted zone **must be clearly sign posted** with an exactly specified sign 3. landscape captures with the restricted zone in view are exempt 4. capturing from a car is exempt too (due to dashcams). Go figure! 😆 In other words, it is perfectly legal to drive by and take pictures but when you step out of a vehicle and take a picture of a restricted zone on foot then it is suddenly punishable! 🤣 It is mostly ridiculous legislation to make voters feel safe and the government look proactive. But seriously, the regulation is rather more intended to make military commanders and other government officials aware of and think about potentially sensitive areas in their realm of responsibility. It gives them clear instructions on and tools for why, what, and how to set up a restricted zone than a “beating stick for unaware good faith photographers”. While instructions and tools for government officials are surely always nice and appreciated, on the other hand one could question the sanity of law makers and regulators in this case because you really have to ask yourself whether they understand how the 21st century and enemy spy agencies work. 😁 Apparently, the logic goes like this: Let’s publicly label all sensitive military areas to make every enemy spy agency’s work easier so that they know which places they should focus on. Makes sense, right? 🤦 There really is nothing new here for Mapillary either. Mapillary contributors have to follow local laws and regulations first anyway. Mapillary cannot take responsibility for you. > [@Fixtor](#): > > I obviously don’t have every restricted area in Poland memorized. Neither does Mapillary, OpenStreetMap, nor any other map data provider. Well, maybe we should ask an enemy spy agency? They surely do! 😆 > [@Fixtor](#): > > As far as I’m aware, this isn’t strictly enforced, but I still don’t want to accidentally break the law. Oh yes, it is enforced. Seriously, do not assume otherwise. > [@Fixtor](#): > > I think it would be a really good idea to have Mapillary automatically remove photos taken at restricted areas. Even if Mapillary wanted to do this — which really does not make much sense the longer you think about it — it all rises and falls with the availability of geo‑fenced data, which we already know is incomplete and unavailable. > [@Fixtor](#): > > It’s not just the users who are at risk of breaking the law - I can imagine that Meta might get into trouble as well for publishing images of restricted areas, so I think this should be taken seriously. No, not really because regulations already exist for this case long time. Restricted zone imagery is no different to publishing any other prohibited content on internet media services. Internet media services just have to have minimal review infrastructure in place and the option to delete such content, what Mapillary does. That’s it. Hence, nothing new or extraordinary here.